Projected CFP rankings after Week 9: Michigan State in top 4, Ohio State left out?

Here is how the College Football Playoff rankings look like following the Week 9 slate of games.

Week 9 of the college football season is finished. There were some eventful end results from some games, such as No. 9 Iowa losing 27-7 to Wisconsin and No. 10 Ole Miss falling to No. 18 Auburn. But perhaps the biggest game was between Michigan and Michigan State, with the Spartans coming back to win 37-33.

College football fans will be waiting frantically for Tuesday night, as that will be when the first official CFP rankings of the 2021 season drop.

Projected CFP rankings entering Week 10

1. Georgia Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs once again remain atop the College Football Playoff rankings. In Week 9, the Bulldogs were oh so close to becoming the first team to shutout the Florida Gators since 1988, but they surrendered a late touchdown. Georgia won 34-7 and are in the driver’s seat to clinch the top seed.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide

The Alabama Crimson Tide had a bye this week, which happened to come on head coach Nick Saban’s birthday weekend. Is it unheard of for the team on a bye week to climb up the rankings? Yes. But you know that Alabama will get some love in the latest rankings, despite having one loss on the year.

3. Michigan State Spartans

The biggest risers will undoubtedly be the Michigan State Spartans. The eighth-ranked team in the nation faced off against No. 6 Michigan in the battle of the unbeaten teams. After trailing 30-14 in the third quarter, the Spartans bounced back to defeat the Wolverines 37-33, thanks in part to a five-touchdown performance by running back Kenneth Walker III. With the Spartans now 8-0, they will land in the Top 4.

4. Cincinnati Bearcats

The Cincinnati Bearcats remain in a Playoff spot with their latest showing on Saturday. Cincinnati defeated Tulane 31-12 after quarterback Desmond Ridder threw for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception against the Green Wave. The Bearcats look to make it nine wins in a row with a victory over Tulsa next week.

Playoff candidates on the outside looking in

5. Ohio State Buckeyes

The Ohio State Buckeyes retain their No. 5 spot in the rankings after they fought tooth and nail to defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions 33-24. Ohio State still remains on the outside looking in because they have one loss this season. That allows undefeated Michigan State to climb into the top 4. They could have the opportunity to knock off the Spartans in three weeks’ time, as long as they continue winning.

6. Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma just falls out of the Playoff, despite the fact that they had a dominant 52-21 victory over Texas Tech. Quarterback Caleb Williams had a tremendous showing, where he threw for 402 yards and six touchdowns, making Oklahoma history. They may be out of the Playoff right now, they will clinch a spot as long as they remain undefeated at the end of the regular season.

CFP rankings release date 2021

The first CFP rankings are released on ESPN at 7 p.m. ET with an hour-long presentation revealing the top 25 teams according to the playoff committee. The rankings will likely be revealed as it has in past years with the bottom 15 teams announced in the first 10 minutes or so of the show. Then, there will be a slower reveal of the top 10 teams. Then, the debate will commence with Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit and the rest of the ESPN college football panel.

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